Is That A Lance In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Ahhhhh yessssssssssss! Let the rumor mill start up!

Via multiple reports, Jerry Wainwright will be canned today as DePaul's head basketball coach.

(Ed.Note: Has been canned.)

Speculation is that one or both of Chris Lowery and Lance Irvin, the SIU men's basketball brain trust, will be in line for that position come April.

Well, as I've said before, if they want Lance a lot, take him.

Good riddance.

But seriously, why would they even want him?

Irvin's biggest draw is that he's related to Mac Irvin, coach of the AAU powerhouse Fire.

But what exactly has Lance brought to the table in Carbondale?

Ryan Hare is his best recruit and didn't last two seasons at SIU. Kevin Dillard played for MeanStreets Express so the talk of Irvin opening up this Chicago pipeline is fiction.

And as for his national pull, we have Gene Teague to show thus far.

Of course, as a freshman, it's far too soon to judge Teague's long term value, but he's averaging under three points and three boards per contest.

Not exactly a diamond in the rough just yet. He's just rough, or rusty, whatever you prefer.

Honestly, if DePaul wants any Irvin, shouldn't it be his kinship Mac?

Might as well hire both of them and clean that Fire cupboard out right away.

But it's not like getting good recruits to go to DePaul is a problem anyway.

Mac Koshwal is the best player on the Blue Demons and he rated out as a four-star prospect according to most outlets. Recent former early NBA draftees include Wilson Chandler and Dar Tucker.

So I'm not really sure either is truly a good hire for DePaul because whoever takes that job has their work cut out for them for one key reason.

Allstate Arena is NOT a college stadium. If you've been to a Blue Demons game this decade you can see the half empty stadium without any college vibes or sense of identity.

The stadium is a good 20-30 minute train ride for DePaul students and they really don't support the team for good reason.

Playing in an overloaded conference, the Big East is far too advanced for DePaul, a school that had success as a member of Conference USA.

Without an identity on or off the court, DePaul will continue to struggle no matter how many Irvins they want to add.

And don't think Lowery wants to jump on this, either.

Lowery is interested in winning and that isn't any easier at DePaul than it is at SIU. Sure, SIU is headed for year three of a downward spiral but there is hope on the horizon.

New, state-of-the-art facilities are coming soon and the core of Saluki team are sophomores or younger.

I have a hard time not seeing Justin Bocot, Anthony Booker, Kevin Dillard and newcomer Diamond Taylor not making a Sweet 16 run or deeper when they reach senior status in two years.

As for DePaul? Have fun in the Big East! It's way more competitive in one of the league's best leagues and the Blue Demons' facilities aren't that of an upper-tier college program.

If Lowery is going to ever leave, it will be for a good/great Big Ten or Big 12 program with a chance of winning a national title. And due to SIU's recent slide, I don't see that opportunity popping up for Lowery for another two years.

We'll revisit the coaching rumors in 2012 friends.

If the world doesn't end, of course.

Jerry Wainwright Out At DePaul, Coaching Carousel Begins

It is never too early to get the coaching carousel spinning.  Especially if you are the DePaul Blue Demons.

According to a report from ESPN's Andy Katz, DePaul has called for an 11 a.m. news conference with men's basketball coach Jerry Wainwright and Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto


Wainwright, who took over my mother's alma mater in 2005 after Dave Leitao left for Virginia after suckering overseeing DePaul's move from Conference USA to the Big East, is as good as gone.

Chicago sports figure David Kaplan chimes in via his Twitter account and announces that assistant Tracy Webster will take over the head coaching duties on an interim basis.

This is where we begin to connect the dots.  Pay close attention, you might get lost along the way.

Let's start here and reference something we wrote back in April.

Sources told WSCR afternoon host Dan Bernstein DePaul had been trying to push Wainwright and his entire staff out the door in an effort to help lure SIU head coach Chris Lowery away from his alma mater. And when Wainwright declined to resign and accept the partial buy-out, heads started to roll.

It was not the first time Lowery has been linked to a power conference gig, nor was it the first time Lowery was linked to the DePaul gig.  In a piece with the Daily Herald, Lindsey Willhite nutted up and asked a damn good question.

(Willhite): OK, I have to ask this only because I see this on the DePaul message boards: They seem to think (Jerry) Wainwright's on his way out and they think somebody like you could come in and save them. You're not going anywhere to save people, are you?

(Note: Lowery's in the second year of a seven-year extension that pays him $750K per year).


(Lowery): The biggest thing for me is, I want to win. That's No. 1. The only way I would leave Southern is if I thought I could go and win somewhere. I make great money. So I don't have to take a job where I feel is going to be detrimental to my career. I don't think I'm going to go anywhere that's detrimental to winning. And that's the thing: I've always been a part of winning, from high school to college to assistant (coach). Every step of the way, I've had some success. At this point, I don't need to go anywhere just for money.

Pay close attention to the language Lowery uses.  He doesn't sound like a man ready to leave.  However, DePaul could be an attractive spot.  It would put Lowery in Chicago, where he has been successful recruiting at times, having brought in players such as Bryan Mullins, Kevin Dillard, Ryan Hare and Tony Freeman.  Lowery also could take advantage of some of the great health benefits Chicago has to offer, including one of the best children's hospitals right in Lincoln Park.

Then again, DePaul has some not-so-good qualities.  It has no true home stadium.  They got rid of its home court advantage years ago to make a little bit more money playing in the Rosemont Horizon Allstate Arena.  The Blue Demons also compete in a stacked Big East conference that features seven schools with RPI rankings of 22 or better.

Not necessarily the kind of place where Lowery could win big and win fast.

And while I know there are many people (just read SalukiTalk and you'll find 'em) that would not mind seeing Lowery take a trip up I-57 and stay there, I just don't think it's happening unless the Blue Demons give him an unbeatable offer he could not pass up.  Still, the DePaul job could shuffle the Saluki coaching staff.

Still with us?  Hope so.

Let's reference another blog we wrote back in late March.

Lance Irvin, who is in his second year as a Saluki assistant and first year with the Associate Head Coach mantra, had his name thrown into the DePaul ring late last year.  Sources confirmed a Chicago Sun-Times noting the Blue Demons' interest in adding Irvin.

So, here we are a year later and I would not be surprised if the Blue Demons come calling again.

Note this passage from the Sun-Times link (now broken):

"[T]his job as an assistant coach at DePaul all comes down to one thing: the Class of 2011. If the head coach at DePaul isn't connected, then the assistant coach has to be ultra-connected to both the Chicago Public League and the AAU scene in the city and suburbs ... With that in mind, it's obvious the new assistant coach absolutely has to have some tie to the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program."



(snip)



The first name is obvious. Southern Illinois assistant coach Lance Irvin is already rumored to be a target. There is no assistant coach more tied into the Mac Irvin Fire AAU team than Lance Irvin, who comes straight from the family tree.

Irvin has already had one go-around with DePaul when he was on Joey Meyer's staff.  I know a lot of people are down on Irvin, especially Saluki fans who expected high-profile recruits from the Mac Irvin fire to come rolling in by the busload.  However, nationally, people love Lance Irvin.  He's a great interview and an intriguing basketball mind.  Granted, I've got insight because I've actually had the opportunity to sit down and have lengthy conversations with the coach, so consider me privileged.

When I last checked in with my DePaul-connected peeps, I was told the Blue Demons would prefer a coach with with strong Chicago ties, just as the Sun-Times story suggested.

Irvin's coaching stock skyrocketed over the summer after attending a black coaches conference.  And in our one-on-one interview back in December, Coach Irvin said his ultimate goal would to be a head coach. 

At this stage, I'll assume there is some buyout involved and DePaul will still be on the hook for some of Wainwright's paycheck.  To me, that means the Blue Demons will be looking for a relatively cheap hire rather than a bank-breaking candidate.

So, what better place for a first job than back in Irvin's home town?

It's January, and we're being completely speculative at this stage of the game.  However, we base this speculation off of written reports from last season, sources we have gathered and connecting some dots along the way.  No coach leaves mid-season to take another job in college basketball.  It just doesn't happen.

And while I'm not 100 percent sure what the future holds for any of the coaches I have named in this blog, I do know an interesting situation when I see one.  Be sure to keep an eye on this one as it develops.  This could be a doozy.

Discuss amongst yourselves, we stayed up way past our bed time to deliver this post.  Time for some shut-eye.

Bears Shouldn't Want Mike Martz

If Bears fans were asked if they would like Mike Martz as the team's new offensive coordinator, their answer would be a resounding yes.  If only because his name is not Ron Turner.  Yet, should the Bears want the nutty coordinator?

The answer might be a resounding no.

I mean, don't get me wrong.  I am under the impression that anything would be an upgrade to Ron Turner's offense.  I refuse to go as far as some Bears fans who question Turner's sexuality or manhood ... I just have a problem with his play calling.  The biggest indictment on Turner and his inability to make correct calls in the booth is this very season.

Blessed with a skilled quarterback who has a strong arm, rarely (other than last week's game against the Eagles) has Turner called for multiple deep patterns.  Geared with a team that features speedsters on the outside, the Bears' offense has yet to find consistent ways to get players such as Devin Hester and Johnny Knox the ball.

And that is why I would be hesitant to hire Mike Martz.

Like Turner, Martz had one sensational season as an offensive coordinator.  But unlike Turner, Martz had his this decade.  However, the signs of fraud stare Chicago fans square in the face.

When the Rams won the Super Bowl, they were known as the Greatest Show on Turf.  And everyone in Chicago knows the Soldier Field surface is nothing more than a joke ... especially when we get to the winter months.  Martz was fortunate to have some of the best talent in the game when he was calling the shots in St. Louis.

The Rams had two No. 1 receivers in Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt to compliment Marshall Faulk who was tearing it up in his prime.  Then there was Kurt Warner, whose arm, mind and body were as fresh as the groceries he once bagged before becoming big time.

They won the Super Bowl by inches, and then lost the next one by a foot.  (Specifically, Adam Vinatieri's foot.)

Since then, Martz's career has sputtered and it coincides with the decline of the careers of Bruce, Faulk and Holt.  Faulk is in some announcing booth right now, while Bruce and Holt are toiling away in San Francisco and Jacksonville, respectively.  The Rams have gone from the Greatest Show on Turf to the lamest.

Since leaving St. Louis, Martz has failed to be a productive coordinator.  He was given the keys to the Motor City and the Lions proceeded to continue in their spectacular sucky ways.  A year later he went to San Francisco ... and only after Vernon Davis and Fred Gore wallowed in misery was Martz shown the door by Mike Singletary.

With Martz out of the picture, Davis and Gore are flourishing despite having Shaun Hill and Alex Smith under center.  Shouldn't an offensive guru such as Martz have found a way to make the 49ers offense better than mediocre?

Probably.  But he didn't.

So, what makes Bears fans -- or more importantly Bears management -- feel so good about what Martz could do with Jay Cutler?  Tight end Greg Olsen, Cutler's favorite target, would be stifled by his own offensive coordinator.  Running back Matt Forte would likely follow Olsen's path into obscurity.  Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox could benefit ... if we were a game of Madden.

And as bad as Turner has been, and as much as change could be great for Chicago, if Mike Martz is the answer, then I don't want to know what the question is.

Is Mike Martz on his way to Bears? [Sun-Times]
Martz denies report he's headed to Bears [Tribune]

Cowher Interested In Bears? Feeling Better Be Mutual

If Super Bowl championship winning coach Bill Cowher is interested in coaching the Chicago Bears (as suggested here) the feeling better be mutual.

I do not care how much money or how many years Lovie Smith has left on his contract.  If Cowher is on the market, the Bears should go shopping.  Plain and simple.

Hiring Cowher would not be a change-for-change sake.  Instead, it would be a change-for-the-sake-of-franchise-pride kind of move.  Cowher is a proven winner whose defensive system is a long-standing testament to what productive defensive units could do.  His offenses have always been good enough, especially under the mastermind who is now coaching the Arizona Cardinals, Ken Whisenhunt.

I think the biggest thing Cowher would bring to Chicago is discipline, a very important fact especially for a team that racks up one stupid penalty after another.  Whether it be on false starts, offsides or personal fouls, Cowher's teams have always been known as smart football squads.  It would be a 180 degree turn of events compared to some of the knucklehead plays Bears fans have seen recently, whether it be Tommie Harris' shot a few weeks ago or Peanut Tillman's shove last year.

My one concern with Cowher is not whether or not the Bears would pay him, because at this point you've invested so much money into quarterback Jay Cutler, you might as well invest as much into the guy who is supposed to coach Cutler into being the franchise signal caller he was supposed to be.  Instead, my concern is whether or not Bears fans would completely be open to Cowher.

Think about it.

Cowher would not be bringing in traditional Chicago Bears football.  It would be more like Pittsburgh Steelers football.  And when it boils down to it, say goodbye to your precious 4-3 defense and hello to the 3-4.  Well all know how much Bears fans embrace change to the franchise's most important position.

Don't look at me like that?  You know as well as I do that your average Chicago meathead will dismiss the 3-4 defensive scheme quicker than a dinner salad.  And even though said fans are a minority, they are a vocal minority.  One that takes to the airwaves and pollutes sports talk radio with the concept of "Bears weather" and "Old-time Bears football."

Newsflash, gang.  "Bears weather" sucks.  It's cold and snowy, and while you think it's great that the other team will be slipping and sliding away ... guess what ... so will the Bears.  As for "Old-time Bears football" I have no frickin' clue how that can be a good thing.  They've made one Super Bowl appearance since I've been alive.  Yeah, you can take your old-school football.  I'll take old-time Dallas Cowboy football or old-time New England Patriot football.

Or, how about old-time Pittsburgh Steelers football?

I'm down.  How about you, Bears fans?

Ten Guys The Chicago Cubs Should Avoid Like The Swine Flu

Baseball's winter meetings kicked off today in Chicago, meaning after Jim Hendry guzzles a dozen donuts this morning, he won't have too far to go to meet with someone who will gladly take Milton Bradley off his glaze-covered hands.

In the Hot Stove League, it is easy to write about who you want on your team.  But it takes a real keen eye to identify the guys you don't want around.  Over the past few years, Hendry has identified those guys ... and proceded to sign those guys on the Cubs.

Here are the guys he should avoid like the plague swine flu.


1. Mike Cameron, CF.  There was once a time where Cameron was among the best center fielders in baseball.  The three-time Gold Glove winner was always spectacular in the field, making routine plays and making difficult plays look routine.  At the plate, he was serviceable at best, but was usually a threat on the base paths. Cameron has three 30-steal seasons and five more years of at least 22 swipes under his belt.

Unfortunately, at age 36, those days are behind Cameron.  Yes, he still has some pop in his bat (24 home runs, .795 OPS) but I'm not quite sure that He's hit at least 20 HRs in each of the last four seasons.

2. Rick Ankiel.  This is what I said at the A League Of Her Own blog about this season's scariest players on the open market.

"I fear signing Rick Ankiel. Lefty hitter. Power at times. Knows the division. Plays all 3 OF spots. Sounds like a Jim Hendry signing to me."

I still feel that way today.  Ankiel had a breakout season in 2008, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 71.  His production took a dip in 2009 as he hit only 11 home runs and had 38 RBIs in 404 plate appearances.  Funny how this turns out.  Ankiel had 11 homers and 39 ribbies in 190 plate appearances in 2007.  If that's not a red flag, I don't know what is.  Oh yeah, that whole HGH thing Cardinals fans always seemingly forget about when it comes to their own players.

But BOOOOOOOO Manny Ramirez!

3. Brett Myers, SP/RP.  One could argue that Myers hit a pinnacle in 2007 when he saved his season, and possibly career, by moving into the bullpen.  Myers racked up 64 strikeouts in a little more than 53 innings pitched with a 1.200 WHIP, 2.87 earned run average and 21 saves.  On the other hand, one could argue that his biggest hit came on a woman.

Myers wants to be a starter, a role in which he has struggled with in a hitters haven such as Philadelphia.  Doesn't sound like someone you want to throw into the pressure cooker on Addison and Clark.

4. Mark DeRosa, 1B/2B/3B/OF.  I made my argument here for why the Cubs shouldn't bring DeRo Your Hero back to Chicago.  And if you want to bring in a guy who will be 35 next year and is coming off a season in which he posted a .250/.319/.433/.752 slash line on a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal then you should probably get your priorities in line.

5. Gary Matthews Jr., OF  Over the last three years, Gary Matthews Jr. has posted a .248/.326/.379/.705 slash line.  In that same time span, Milton Bradley has posted  a .294/.405/.501/.906 slash line.  If you would trade Milton Bradley for Gary Matthews Jr., you are clinically insane.

6. Doug Davis, SP.  I've heard plenty of Cubs fans who want Doug Davis on the 2010 Cubs to fill the role of inning-eating, back-of-the-rotation guy.  But really, I think Cubs fans want him because he has tortured the Cubs (9-6, 3.20 ERA, 1.159 WHIP) throughout his mediocre career.

The only team Davis has more wins and a lower ERA against is San Diego.  Think about that.

7. Oliver Perez, P  Can you believe the Pirates acquired this guy in exchange for with Jason Bay? (Ed. My bad.) I still want no part of this guy being on the 2010 Cubs.

8. Carlos Silva, P.  Do you want to know why the Seattle Mariners are a bad baseball team?  Because they gave this scrub a four-year deal worth $48 million.  No thanks.

9. Willy Taveras, OF.  A possible non-tender candidate, Taveras is fast.  His $4 million option will likely be declined.  Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown could spend $4 million on blow and I would still think it is a wiser investment than giving it to Willy-T. (possible non-tender)

10. Eric Byrnes, OF.  Total douchebag, which is cool if you're into that thing.  I'm not.  Two years ago, Byrnes hit .286/.353/.460/.813 with 21 home runs and 50 stolen bases.  Two years ago, George W. Bush was our president.  Sometimes things change.  Shit happens.

Honorable Mentions: Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Vernon Wells, Aaron Rowand.

A Message To Jim Hendry

Ryan Dempster sucks. Kevin Gregg sucks. Aaron Heilman sucks.

Carlos Zambrano is on the DL. Rich Harden is behind schedule in joining him. Randy Wells is approaching the innings pitched danger zone as a rookie.


The Cubs have holes in the rotation and in the bullpen. Yet, there is apparently no interest from the Chicago Cubs in free-agent John Smoltz. But the Cardinals do.

All they would have to do is pay the pro-rated minimum.

That's it.

If they can't do that done because of "impending ownership change" then let's fold the tents over at Clark & Addison and contract the damn team.

Jim Hendry, you suck harder than all of the losers I mentioned in line one. If I was Tom Ricketts, I'd have a nice message waiting on your voicemail for you....

Today's Tease: Pedro Martinez To The Cubs?

While 300 wins is the benchmark in which crusty ol' elitist baseball folks judge starting pitcher, something has to be said for a pitcher that led all of baseball in ERA five times, strkeouts three times and WHIP six times, while also amounting has three Cy Young awards in the process.

And when that pitcher is available on the open market, there is no reason not to look at him. Who doesn't want a starting pitcher with 214 wins and a .689 winning percentage in the regular season and a 6-2 career postseason record?

Cubs fans, if you have stuck around long enough to get through the intro, you will notice I am not talking about Jake Peavy.

I'm talking about Pedro Martinez.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports The (Sometimes) Jeri-Curled Gunslinger has recently worked out for the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays, and that both teams are exploring the possibility of adding Martinez to their rosters.

For the Cubs, it would be an absolute steal. They wouldn't have to unload the farm and risk losing a prospect that actually happens to pan out in the process. And while the Cubs rotation isn't the team's biggest weakness, adding Pedro could facillitate a move to the bullpen for Randy Wells or (dare I suggest?) Rich Harden.

No need to worry about Harden's worrisome assortment of injuries if he's pitching one or two innings out of the bullpen. One could think of him as Trevor Hoffman circa the time he throw mid-90s fastballs to go along with that baffling Bugs Bunny change-up.

As for the Rays, they can screw off. They've got David Price, Matt Garza and Scott Kazmir, when healthy. Not to mention that they traded away Edwin Jackson (6-3, 2.24 ERA) for Matt Joyce's bat, which apparently still hasn't made its way from Detroit.

The North Side Nine needs a shake-up on that roster. Something that says "we want to win and want to do it now" while also saying "none of you f***stains have a job that is safe."

Signing Pedro Martinez does both.

The Jake Peavy Saga Continues

Billionaire Cubs fan Tom Ricketts is inching closer to officially becoming the owner of his childhood favorite team.

So with a new owner seemingly in tow, is it time for me to install a Jake Peavy countdown app to put on the sidebar under Twitter?

According to this mlb.com story, yes, and it is more likely to happen now than ever before.

But since I don't want to I won't. He hasn't earned it yet.

See, I refuse to totally give in to the rumor monster who somehow, someway linked the Cubs as a potential suitor for the 2007 NL Cy Young winner to the point where GM Jim Hendry inquired about his availability. Then had the nerve to get so close to a deal, it bothered Cubs fans when it fell through.

It was like the Brian Roberts Situation, but instead of being secluded, he reportedly sang "Go Cubs Go" and signed "Go Cubs" on an autographed baseball.

That's where this crazy plotline is interesting. It is almost as if the Peavster is as hell bent on joining the Cubs as their fans are on having him.

I've heard of requests for Peavy replica Cubs jerseys to be made. I've seen profile pics with Peavy photoshopped with a Cubs hat and Cubbie blue pinstripes.

And for the millionth time, I am sick and tired of writing blogposts about nothing in particular.

Rumors. Whispers. Hearsay. All of it has dominated this blog when it relates to Jake Peavy.

And I'm tired of it.

Look, I want him on the Cubs. Cubs fans want him on the Cubs. He wants to be on the Cubs. Jim Hendry apparently wants him on the Cubs. And Kevin Towers wants to oblige and send him to the Cubs.

And if all it takes is a handful of prospects ... it's time to pull the trigger.

Our long national nightmare must end soon.

B-Diddy to G-State again?: Former teammate Steven Jackson thinks a Baron Davis reunion tour could happen. "That's all we talked about," Jackson said. "I went to his house, spent some time with his mom and his grandmother. He wants to come back. And if he wants to come back, I want him back. ... I think that would be great for us," Jackson said. "Coach (Don Nelson) loves him. Him and (guard) Monta (Ellis) have good chemistry. If they could work that out, that would be great for the organization."

This seems to go against what like The Baron told us 11 days ago after the Clippers beat the Pacers in double overtime on Dec. 19.

By the way, just my opinion: Baron, Camby, Randolph, Gordon > S-Jax, Uh-Oh Maggette-Oh and injured Monta Ellis even though the records would indicate otherwise.

Reunited, and it won't feel good for Wood

Dusty Baker congratulates Kerry Wood on a job well done after throwing 159 pitches in six innings

It looks as if Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker wants to finish what he started five years ago.

Baker managed the 2003 Chicago Cubs to a National League Central Division championship and within five outs of the pennant as starting pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were abused like a rented mule or white powder in the Bobby Brown household.

Either way, one could argue that Baker's abuse of a pair of aces damaged the Cubs' chance of winning during his time at the helm. Yet, that's not stopping him from wanting to reunite with his former wounded ace.

"We have a closer already in [Francisco] Cordero, who we have under contract for a few more years," Baker said Monday. "But somebody can use Kerry Wood. I am going to call him. I like Kerry Wood as a person, not just as a ballplayer, but as a person. I will give him a call and see what's up."

I don't believe it. Dusty, if you liked Wood as a person then why did you use him so much to the point his arm turned into spaghetti towards the end of your tenure in Chicago. I hope Kerry has caller ID and turned away as soon as he saw 'Baker, Dusty' pop up.

Could you imagine the voicemail?

"Hey dude, it's Dusty. Remember, we used to be cool in the Chi? Anyway I was wondering if you wanted to play in Cincinnati. You know, white people love Cincinnati because it's really in Kentucky. Call me back, dude."

And to be honest, I'm not sure how Baker could work up the nerve to say he liked Woody as a ball player. It's tough to make a judgement like that when said player pitched only one healthy season under your watch.

Thankfully, Wood has a guardian angel. A shocking one at that in Reds GM Walt Jocketty, who once held the same position with the rival St. Louis Cardinals.

Jocketty squashed Baker's dreams of putting an end to Wood's career once and for all.

"It would be pretty tough with (Francisco) Cordero as our closer," Jocketty said. "I love (Wood's) talent. But I imagine there are going to be offers out there for him to close."

I never thought I'd see the day a former Cardinal looked out for the well-being of a soon-to-be former Cub. But it came. I guess the apocalypse is closer than I thought.

Photo Credit: Tribune.com Sports

Out goes Wood, in comes Johnson?

All dirty jokes aside, I laughed a little insde when I heard that the Chicago Cubs were interested in adding Randy Johnson to the starting rotation.

Yes, that Randy Johnson.

The Big Unit. The angriest looking motherf*cker in the history of baseball. He of the 13-0 record against the Cubs, including a perfect 4-0 mark at Wrigley Field.

If Johnson were to join the Cubs, I would doubt his dominance at the Friendly Confines had a strong chance to continue. He wouldn't be facing Cub hitters. However, he'd make a nice back-of-the-rotation guy and veteran presence.

But, in the grand scheme of things, it would be another classic example of how Tribune Co. runs things. When Johnson was a free agent in his prime, the Cubs had absolutely no interest in the Unit because they weren't willing to increase payroll. Notice that I emphasized "willing."

Now, as Johnson enters the twilight of his career as he approaches the 300-win milestone, the Cubs want to handsomely pay a 45-year-old lefty starter.

Nowadays, it seems that's all the Cubs want to do: Throw money at their problems.

And while it might work in the dating world, I'm not quite sure it will work in baseball.
(See NY Yankees circa 2002-present)

But that's a whole other can of worms that don't need to be opened today. I just thought I'd throw out some food for thought for ya.

But while we're at it, maybe the Cubs should add Ken Griffey Jr. to play right field, he's a free agent. I wonder what that Alex Rodriguez kid is doing these days.

Photo Credit: cnnsi.com